Automatic coupling.



PATENTED AUG. 20

J. C. SANDS. AUTOMATIC COUPLING.

. APILIOATION FILED DBO.4,1906.

4 SHEETSSHB1JT 1.

No. 864,1Q8.

PATENTE D AUG. 10.3mm. AUTOMATIC COUPLING.

APPLIOATION FILED DBO. 4, 1906.

PATENTED' AUG, 20, 1907.

J. C. SANDS. AUTOMATIC COUPLING.

APYLIUATION FILED DEO.4.190 6.

4 SHEETS-511E313" llll lllllllll llllllllll I! 4 snnms smm 4.

' PATENTED AUG. 20

J. G. SANDS. AUTOMATIC COUPLING. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 4. 1906.

JAMES C SANDS, 9F DOVER, ilill" no. see, 108.

Specification of Letters Peter-it.

retested rin so, 1907.

Application filed December 4,1906. Serial 1%. 326,346.

To all whom it may concern:

ie it known tlmt'l, JAMES C. SANDS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dover, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Couplings, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic couplings havingparticular reference to the coupling of train pipe systems including thesteg m, air and water mains, and has as the principal object thereof thecoup: ling of the several mains without the necessity of manualmanipulation.

In the following is descriheo in connection with the accompanyingdrawings one embodiment of the invention, the ieatures thereof beingmore particularly pointed out hereiilaftcr in the claims.

In thc drawings Figure l is a side elevation oi two adjoining carsillustrating the respective coupling members in their engaging orcoupled position. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation oi the couplingdevice illustrating the respective members in their normal or open ofthe coupling heads illustrating the application of the coupling armsprovided with a plurality of ports or puss-age leads. Fig 8 is a detailside elevation of one of the coupling arms, parts being broken away tomore clearly illustrate the particular parts embed icd therein. Fig. 9is a vertical sectional view of the p st or passage lead controllingvalve illustrating in connection therewith the means of holding therespective coupling orms in a central engaging or locked position, thedisengaged or normal position being shown in dotted lines. Fig. '10 is alongitudinal sectional view oi the port or passage lead controllingvalve, Fig. 11 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of the auxiliaryport or passage lead controlling valve, the same being adapted tocontrol the passage of air, steam, water, ete., through the manuallyoperated controlling valve. Fig. 2 is a detail longitudinal sectionalview of the manually operated controlling valve, the coupling headsbeing shown in end elevation. Fig. 13 is an enlarged side elevation ofthe coupling erin illustrating the application of two manually opertitedcontrolling valves showing the means of cutting out the automaticcoupling head. Fi :14 is a cross-sectional view on the line hie-1e ofFig. 13; Fig.

means and means for ho ding said coupling arm in its disengaged ornormal position, the engaged position being shown in dotted lines. Fig.16 is a cross-sectional view on the line ill-16 of Fig. 15.

Similar numerals oi reference indicate similar parts throughout theseveral views.

In hl19 (l12l.WlIlgS l and 2 represent two adjoining cars supported bytrucks 3 on tracks fl, suidcers being joined together or attached to'oneanother as at 5 by means of buffer coupling Leads 8.

7 and 8 are coupling arms pivoted as at 9 in universal supportingbracket 10 mounted on the underside of the respective butter couplingheads 6, said coupling arms 7 and 8 having cast therewith at their upperends adjacent to the pivotal point 5) reception nipples 11 adapted toreceive the flexible hose ends 12 of the respective steam, water, andair leads 13 of the. train pipe system.

'lhe coupling olrnis 7 and 8 is-sun the position as shown in Fig. '2 ofthe drawings when the cars are detached end held in this position bymeans of centering lugs 14 cast on the under side of the buffer couplingheads 6. Said coupling arms 7 and 8 have suitably fastened thereto, orcast therewith, at their lower ends engaging heads 15 and 16 comprisingmale and female members 17 and 18 having formed on their extreme ends 19pecking lugs or earns 20 contacting with it binding surface 21 formed onthe inner surface oi the guiding heads 22 and 23. Engaging heads 15 and1:; have suitably cast therewith at the central portion thereof pins 24:halving mounted on their outer ends finding or lfollowing arms 25, theends of said finding arms being flared outwardly as at 26. The object ofthe oiding heads and the finding arms is. to provide means whereby thecoupling heads are brought into positive engagement with one another.Coupling heads lound 16 are provided with a. moshing surface 27 slightlyinclined or beveled as shown in the dotted line in Fig. 4 oi thedrawings, the same providing a locking means for the coupling arms whenthe cars are brought into engagement or their coupled positions.

The univorszil supporting brackets 10 as illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and1( of the drawings, comprises a supporting member 28 having lasttherewith a swivel head 29 and two downwardly projecting lugs'30 adaptedto receive valve core 31 mounted in bezirings 32 suitably mounted onsaid valve core 31 and forms at the pivotal point thereof the valvecasing 83. 34 is a, sleeve adjustably mounted on one end of said valvecore 31 adapted to receive a high tension spring 35 having a projectingarm 36 and at its extreme end a. reception hook 37 receiving at thatpoint an engaginglink 38 pivotally mounted in lever 39 which is inturnpivotally ireounted in coupling arm 8 as at 40. 41 its lug cast Iwith rvi id coupling arm 8 end is adapted to act-es a stop ill;

their locked position.

m means (ii-limiting the movement of lever when he .ension in l-Zlillspring 35 is required to hold th r ective coupling arms in their normalpositions. The position the arms and means for holding! or supporting,the some assume is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9 of the drawings.Valve core ill has suitably cut. therein steam-port or lead 42,watt-nport or lead 43 and airport or load 44 adapted to register withcorresponding {manage-ways 45 in the coupling: arms 7 and 8 when the(ars oome together or when the oupling arms are in Passage-ways orhy-passos 45 extend longitudinally through the coupling arms 8 and 9 andconnect at their respective mouth portions 46 in the respective nouplim.heads l5 and lti.

47 are coupling; heads mounted on or east with coupling arms 8 and fl atan intermediate portion thereof and have t'orntod therein ports 48rennet-ting with corresponding ports or passage-ways 49 in the manuallyoperated or hand valve 50 mounted transversely in each of therespet'tive coupling arms. The ohjcct oi the above dr-srrihed hand valveof) is to provide means wln-reiiy the adjoining ears may he coupledtogether by manual int-ans when one of tho ('tllt! has not appliodthereto the automatic or Slll f'ttllpllllg (leVim-H.

Referring to Fig. iii of the drawings, coupling arm 8 is provided at anintermediate portion thereof with coupling heads 5i and 52havingomhodied therein ports 53 connecting with ports 54 ('ut in valvecore 55, said valve core finding hearing in coupling arm 8. core hasast. thereon at one end th reof a handdover it The ohject oi using, thetwo i-oupling: heads is to providinit-ails whereby outor more ol thepassage lends may h (-ount-t'tt-d with Corresponding coupling heads orhand-manipulatr-d devices when one of the porting means as illustratedin hi4. if) of the drawings r-omprisi-s a swivel hearing 57 mounted inMiller couplin lit-ad 6 (not shown) and a, flange 58 having east threwith downwardly projecting ltnrs 59.

tit) is th Volvo core the parts comprising same being as heretofore dscriht-d. Coupling arm 8 is loosely nlulllllt-tl on said valve (ore tit)and has formed then-on livtwepn th downwardly projecting lugs 5!) a lugor stop til :iinptod to one; a t'orresponding lug or stop (i2 (:mil withflange 58. the lllljttl of said lug tiZ hoing to provide int-ans whor-ivy the t tlilillllg arm nuty have it limited movement when the saidarm is iii-its downward position.

oil is a. heavy coiled spring fastened at outend ther of in in; I54 castwith lid. 58, the other end tilerooi living adapted to l)(' lash-nod topin tJ imountt-d iitoupling arm ti,

tit a. r -option ni utlo-r lasleu -d to the under side of thihul'l'ert-ouplin head it liy menus oi" holt ($7, its

u der surt'amthereot lu-iug illlliill'll upwardly as at tit"; l'oriningin the t 'lllt'l' thorool' a. T t' lllitill rocket. iii) adapt d to I''I i\' lindii-g roller loosely mounted in Iii-gs 7i east with couplingarm n. The object of said finding roller and th parts adja ut th reto isto provid int-ans wlu-rt-liytlurespective roupliug arms may r adily tindtheir ventral positions, also means whcrohy the s veral t'ottplinsg armsmay he thrown out ol' alinemont with one another or when it is desirousVal v0" of Hitting out one of the automatic or soll-eonpling devices andutilizing in their pltlt'tt tho nmnually opt-ratt-d coupling means.

The opt-ration ol' the device is as l'tilimvs'--\\'hon it, is dirous ofcoupling 1L train or plurality ol'x-ars coupling arms 7 and ti mountedon the respective cars are in the position shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawings. The ears are tin-n ltl' tliiflll, into wont-art. with out;another and coupled together as at. 5 by means ol huiier coupling headsti. During the above described operation engaging heads i and iii arehrought into positive ongagenu-nt by means of guiding heads 22 and 23and finding, or following arms 25 mounted on pins 24, the respectiveheads't ln-reoi' assuming a temporarily locked litit-lltltill by meansof cams 20 hearing on binding surl'act- 2i in the respeetive eouplingheads. When upon rear-hing the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 olthe drawings the collapsed or locked position causes ports or hy-passes12 in valvo core 3] to register with passage leads 45 in coupling arms 7and 8 and flexihle hose ends IQ of the train pipe system 13 oomph iugthe connections from car to car. Upon the detaching or uncoupling of thecars the coupling arms will assume their upright, ornormal position andare held in direct alinement or in their central positions by means oithe coiled spring 135 unlit-entering lugs 14.

ll it is d sirous of cutting out one of the sell-coupling arms l ('1'Cl?) is thrown off center rolcusiyg the tension in spring 35 andpermitting the coupling arm to he hwun; under the body ol' the carpreventing any possihlc fracture of the coupling arm. l urtherrnoro ifone of the adjoining cars is not provided with the selfconpling armi.ll(' pipe system=throughout the tmin may he coupled together bylocking engaging or coupling, head. 47 together in the w'oll' knownmanner. The strain, \\'1ll.ll' and air connections are made bynutnipulatin; hand valve 50. Y The device shown in Fig. 15 of thedrawings illustrates the prelerrt-d lorm oi the coupling arm supportin;and position r-r'nnlrolling means.

it. is ohvious that the dovice an herein disclosed may he widely variedwithout departing from the spirit; of the invention. i

\Yha-t l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent; oi the UnitedStates 1. A derive ot' the clialaoter dost ihed int-hiding unlrsallypivoted uulolnallt' coupling arms, means for holdin; suid coupling: armsin alinoment; with u-h other, coupling tit-ads l'ornn-d thereon, meanseasL therewith for guiding said tollpliug heads into out: another, themovement ot' said coupling arms romprising the means of conll illiILLfhy-ptlss controlling valves.

A devlce ef the ch racter described including liniversnlly pivotedautomatic coupling arms, means for holding said coupling arms lualinement with ouch other, pass sngl'wtu's l'oio'nod in said ('ouplitigarms, coupling heads t'oruu-il thereon, guide's formed on said roupllngheads, the engaged or locked position of in; the means of openingpa ineach of aid coupling; arms,

3. A tlevit'te ot' the ehzirnrtor doserihed including; univertolllypivoted automatitcoupllug arms. meansl'or holdin; said couplim: arms inallut-ment with each other, pure sageways lorun-d in said coupling arms,coupling heads formed thou-on, guides formed on said coupling heads, thedisonga a-d or normal position ol'szlld coupling arms comprisingthemeans of closing passageway controlling vi vi. in each of said couplingarms.

l A device of the churaeter described including a unlid (f illllllllflflll'lllfi comp ,ueway controlling vulvts scenes with comprising anengaging head, a guiding arm formed on one side thereof and a findingarm formed on the other side thereof.

6. A device of the character described including "a, universally pivotedautomatic coupling arm, a bearing therefor, means for holding said armin a central position, a plurality of ports formed therein, a couplinghead formed thereon, guiding and finding means formed on said couplinghead, manually operated coupling heads cast with said.

coupling arm, and means for connecting said manually operated couplingheads with said aforesaid plurality of ports.

7. A device of the character described including a uni versnlly pivotednul'oinotic coupling arm, a bearing therefor, means for holding saidcoupling arm in a central position, a plurality of ports formed in saidcoupling arm connecting with a plurality of. openings in a couplinghead, and a plurality of ports formed in said bearing adapted toregister with the plurality of ports in the coupling arm when thecoupling arms are in their engaged or locked positions.

A device of the character described including a universally pivotedautomatic coupling arm, means for holding said coupling arm in a centralposition, said holding means comprising a coiled spring wound about thebearin; of said coupling arm, and means for retaining the tensionin saidcoiled spring.

9.. A device of the character described including a universaily pivotedautomatic coupling arm, means for bold ing said coupling arm in acentral position, said holding means comprising a coiled spring woundabout the bean ing of saidcoupling arm, and means for releasing thetension in said coiled spring.

10'. A device of the character described including 2. out versnllypivoted automatic coupling arm, means for bolding said coupling arm in acentral position, said holding means comprising a spring bearing againstthe universally pivoted coupling arm at one end thereof. the other endthereof finding bearing in a manually operated locking means.

11. A. device of the character described including uni vet-sally pivotedautomatic coupling arm, coupling heads formed thereon, said couplingheads comprising a guiding arm on one side tllercoi,.a finding arm onthe other side thereof, a locking surface formed thereon, and aninclined reception surface adapted to receive a corresponding couplinghead. I

12. A device of the character di crlrcd includlng a universally pivotedautomatic coupling arm, said universal pivot comprising a body portion,a bearing member, 11 valve core mounted i said body portion adapted toreceive said coupling arfliand form at that point the valve casing.

13. A device of the character described including a uni versnliy pit'oted automatic coupling arm having mountcd ntan intermediate portionthereof a finding roller adapted to engage a centering block mounted ona separutqhody thereof. I

14. A device of the charactex described including an automatic couplingarm, means for holding it in a central position, a universal pivottherefor, coupling heads mounted on said arm, fluid passageways formedtherein, a valve associated with said fluid passageway, and a springadapt ed to hold said coupling arm in a disengaged position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

minus (3. SANDS.

Witnesses:

Ronnn'r W. Asannr, MARY E. l clflmcn.

